Leica III F black painted

[Photographerfromsud]

Hi, i see this Leica in an auction, the actual bid is around 400$, i think it is fake or a bad repaint, what do you think about it? Thanks in advance

 

[AgX]

What makes you consider it a bad paint-job? That some letters are partially closed?
Could be dirt. I mean, if other letters are perfectly clean, why, in case of a repaint, one would not clean all letters...?


However I do not know how an original model was finished:
Engraved after painting, then brass must show off. Engraved after painting and then filled with white lacquer?

If something silver shows off at the engravings, I would be tempted to think of fakery. However the rubbed part show brass and no silver coating at all, what hints at being painted directly on brass.

 

[Photographerfromsud]

Thanks for your quick answer.The problem is i don't think there is any original black Leica iii F except for the Swedish Army series, and i don't understand why "Germany" is engraved like this.

 

[AgX]

How else should Germany be engraved?

 

[Photographerfromsud]

Usually engraving on Leica cameras is very clean and clear, I just think the camera is Original but with a very bad repaint job.

 

[AgX]

If there is a white inlay, and that has flipped off showing black, then such hints at a repaint of a chromed original. (But think of what I said on the rubbed areas.)
But if this is an original, could one exclude a brass cover being engraved before painted black?

But the photos are not very telling. As said there could be black dirt too.
I am though wondering about the white patches near the engravings.
But one has to have the camera in hand...

 

[Helios 1984]

Could you post the link so we can look at the listing? 3 pictures ain't much.

 

[Sirius Glass]

It looks like normal wear and tear. I do not see any outward signs of repainting.

 

[Photographerfromsud]

Could you post the link so we can look at the listing? 3 pictures ain't much.

Sorry i don't have more pictures, it is not mine yet! but as i said i couldn't find any information about a black leica iiif except for Swedish army with a very different serial numbers range.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Regardless of whether the camera's color is original or not, there are basically two questions:

1. Is it a real Leica? I think it is.
2. Do you want it as it is?

I have a chrome IIIf RD ST, but even so, I would buy this obviously repainted camera just because it looks so good:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ac/78/cb/ac78cbce50b3d06e67e5bc3f6f41292b.jpg

 

[4season]

Can't tell much about the quality of the work, but "wye7" for one used to sell painted Leicas at reasonable prices. I always assumed that he repainted them because the original chrome wasn't in great shape.

 

[Jim Jones]

In The Leica: A History Illustrating Every Model and Accessory by Paul-Henry van Hasbroek, Sotheby Publications, 1983, the winterized black Swedish Army model of 1956 is mentioned and illustrated on pages 98 and 99. Serial numbers were from 822,901 to 823,000. The camera was supplied with a black 50mm Elmar 5cm 1:3.5. The abbreviation GMBH is inscribed between the ERNST LEITZ and WETZLAR lines. The high speed shutter dial reads B, 25 (in red)--1, 50, 75, 100, 200, 500, and 1000. The low speed shutter dial reads T, 1, 2, 5, 25 (in red), 15, and 10. Based on this, your camera is not the Swedish Army model, although the black finish may be factory original. There may be no complete listing of all factory variants.

 

[Photographerfromsud]

In The Leica: A History Illustrating Every Model and Accessory by Paul-Henry van Hasbroek, Sotheby Publications, 1983, the winterized black Swedish Army model of 1956 is mentioned and illustrated on pages 98 and 99. Serial numbers were from 822,901 to 823,000. The camera was supplied with a black 50mm Elmar 5cm 1:3.5. The abbreviation GMBH is inscribed between the ERNST LEITZ and WETZLAR lines. The high speed shutter dial reads B, 25 (in red)--1, 50, 75, 100, 200, 500, and 1000. The low speed shutter dial reads T, 1, 2, 5, 25 (in red), 15, and 10. Based on this, your camera is not the Swedish Army model, although the black finish may be factory original. There may be no complete listing of all factory variants.

Thanks, yes obviously it is not swedish army, but if there is 10% chance that there is an original black paint IIIF i would bid to win it.

 

[Helios 1984]

Someone asked the same question about this very camera on the rangefinderforum.com, 6 years ago.
Same pictures too...

 

[Photographerfromsud]

Someone asked the same question about this very camera on the rangefinderforum.com, 6 years ago.
Same pictures too...

Interesting, so another bidders do their research too, it was posted a week ago.I asked the same question in Leica forum after i could register there today and everybody thinks it is a a painted one.So i decide not to bid because i have to drive 7 hours to pick it up if i win it.Thanks for your answers

 

[Helios 1984]

Interesting, so another bidders do their research too, it was posted a week ago.I asked the same question in Leica forum after i could register there today and everybody thinks it is a a painted one.So i decide not to bid because i have to drive 7 hours to pick it up if i win it.Thanks for your answers

Looks like I mistook the join date of the user with the date of the post. Oops

 

[guangong]

The difference between factory and non factory black paint is only of interest to collectors. I know several people who sent their Leicas to Japan to be painted black just because they wanted a black camera and not for financial chicanery. If buying as a collector, I would be cautious, if just want a black camera then must decide if price is reasonable.